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How long does it take to recover after tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy recovery time is unique for each patient. The recovery timeline for children is much shorter than for adults, with seemingly less pain. My own eight year old son was back to his old self in less than a week after his tonsils taken out. This may have fanned the flames of my unreasonable expectations of my own recovery time as an adult. His was fairly typical of a child his age. Children’s bodies heal faster than adults’ do.
Tonsillectomy Recovery Time
What to expect after tonsil surgery
The timeline for recovery for an adult is a different story. Age matters. In fact, it appears that the older an adult is at the time of their tonsillectomy, the longer the recovery is, in general. Based on my own adult tonsillectomy recovery, and the stories of thousands of my readers, I’d put the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time at approximately 10.43 days. Yes, I’m that good!
Humor aside, ten days seems to be pretty typical. I added the .43 because so many people, myself included, thought they had it licked and went back to work around day ten, only to find they weren’t quite ready. As scabs slough off in second week of recovery, many adults experience a bit of a pain relapse, just as they thought they were almost recovered. This is a really tough period for many. They’ve spent almost two weeks with minimal sleep, minimal nourishment, minimal activity, and lots of pain medicine. It can be downright depressing for adults recovering in this second week.
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I do hear from many adults whose recovery times are closer to a week – perhaps due to my good advice, perhaps due to genetics. It’s hard to say why some adults’ recovery timelines are shorter, and their experiences less traumatic. There are also cases that drag out further. If you’re one of a small minority that requires re-cauterization for bleeding, or don’t take the proper precautions, (many of these are outlined here and in my book), your tonsillectomy recovery time may be as much as three or four weeks. I want to make an important point here- one that I cannot overemphasis: Stay hydrated! Keep drinking fluids! Dehydration is the worst enemy of the tonsillectomy patient.
My advice: ask your employer, your family, your friends, and the rest of the world to give you two weeks for your adult tonsillectomy. You may surprise them, hopefully for the better.
Recovery is unique to each individual- sure. We know that recovery time for adults is longer, and maybe harder, than for children. I remember my own son bouncing back in less than a week! My own experience taught me that ten days off from a job that required lots of talking was a bit light. I generally advise two weeks. As I’ve said, most employers will let you come back early. That’s easier than asking for more time after the fact. I’ve read the accounts of thousands of tonsillectomy patients- most of them adults. I’ve learned that the time required varies. I wonder though, how many tonsillectomy patients never really post about their experience.
Are you one of those quiet ones lying in the weeds? I’d like to get a better feel for the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time. Please take a moment and share your own experience in recovering from tonsillectomy surgery. You can help us all!I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out the Tonsillectomy General Store.
-Greg Tooke My short bio
Iv just had my tonsils out On the 6th of may 2017 , I have been able to eat and drink abit up to now but day 3 has been horrible for me I have just woke up in the middle of the night needing pain relieve I had been struggling for hours but couldn’t ask for any tablets as I was to ill to get up dreading day 4 and on wards
How have the days been after? I am on day 5 at the moment, and the pain is excruciating.
I’m on day 14. I’m 21 years old. It’s a long recovery. Not to make you upset but just warning it’s definitely not over but everyone is different
I am a 40 yr old male. I was told straight up by my surgeon what a bitch my T and A could be. It has been a complete f**(*((( nightmare. After witnessing my agony for 10 days my dad said he would rather have his nuts cut off than tonsils out. I came home from surgery feeling ok. Then, complete hell. My enlarged tonsils were huge. The holes are huge. Lots of incidental nerve damage. I was told that my severe ear pain was had because of nerve damage. My brain was confused and was sending messages out that my ears had been cut off. Wtf!!!!! And thats just what it felt like.
I spent the first 10 days in the kitchen taking my pain meds early and generously and microwaving hot wet rags which i would get so hot i coukd barely touch them and then i would hold them against my ears. Then i would go place ice packs on my throat.
I dont think i slept 5 hrs in 10 days. I was terified to fall asleep and miss my meds and wake up scared to death to take that first swallow from hell that would bring me to my knees and my eyes tear up.
It felt like someone had their fingers in my wound and was just pulling down hard and tearing my flesh.
Im on day 14. I have only missed a few doses of pain meds along the way. I will have taken a full 17 days off from work when i return in 3 days.
Humidifier is awesome! I have a cool mist and it feels great.
Vanilla cold pudding has been my go to. I take a small bite, then take a sip of water and as i do mash the pudding with my tongue. Then i swish and greatly further thin the pudding before swallowing.
My mom made a greasy hamburger steak, mashed potatoes, and smothed squash. By puting all in one gross looking bowl, adding water- and by taking bites with water and chewing and chewing before swallowing – it was great. I learned that greasy food was perfect becsuss it lubricated my throat.
On day 8 I woke up as i was sitting in my bed. I had a warm sensation in the back of my throat. I thougt it was my thing in the back of my throat or maybe i was swallowing mucus. Then, i went to the bath sink and it was thick blood! Red alert! I ran and woke up parents and to the ER at 2am. I had no idea how much blood i had possibly lost.
ER put me on IV drip and my bleeding stopped. I stayed in ER for 6 hrs until my surgeon came in and checked me out. I lost 2 pints.
Good news: I had severe sleep aptnia and obstruction. I havent snored yet! Even as i sit here 14 days later, at a resting state on the couch, my breathing is easy- not labored- my air intake feels nice and I already feel better overall.
No doubt that i wish i had done this when i was 5, but i am already reaping the benefits. Nonetheless, with as much suffering as i have experienced – the worst time in my 40 years of life- i would NOT do the surgery again. I would just get a c- pap and call it a day.
On Day 9 the pain was so severe all i could do was rock back and forth and loudly groan. I was sleep deprived. Anytime anyone would make a suggestion to me i wanted to kill them. I was on tge edge of insanity.
In this day of modern medicine, surely a more humane method and aftercare is posible for this barbarric exercise.
First, 2 large hunks of flesh are cut out of throat, then the flesh is burned with fire. Then the scabs fall off and expose new, raw, tender flesh. Have fun!!!
I also forgot to mention that so far Ive lost 21 pounds. Also, in the ER i got a shot in each ass cheek. Joy!?
Your story has made me laugh so much that I might pass out with holding in the laughter and the pain! I am going through all of this and flip I will take childbirth everyday of recovery than a tonsillectomy recovery- absolutely horrendous
I’m on day 14 now! You are quite a bit older than I (I’m 21) but I have yet to read anyone past day 10 till I read yours! When did you completely heal to where you could eat normally? Anything bad after day 14?
My name’s Amanda and I’m 22.
Pre story
On April 19th I went to a walk in clinic. I was informed there it was strep and a high fever of 104. I was given a prescription for an antibiotic called cephalexin. I started taking it. Saturday the following day I felt even worse. The worst I’ve ever felt having strep. My dad drove me home from my mom’s due to the severe pain I was feeling that night. I was miserable. I awoke about 4am. Called my mom and told her I needed to go to the ER. She took me.
The story
At 4am Sunday the 23rd they told me at the ER, while I was in SEVERE PAIN. THE WORST I HAVE EVER FELT. IVE ALSO HAD A CHILD WITH NO PAIN MEDS. I had an absess on my tonsils. First he numbed with spray and tried to drain it with a needle. That was unsuccessful. They decided the only other option was emergency tonsillectomy. They had me prepped. Put me under. Did the surgery. When I awoke I felt 100x better than before. Even after the surgery. Which speaks volumes about the pain I was in before. The doctor said my tonsils were extremely infected. They sent me home about 530 pm.
I was beginning to recover…
Some days harder than others. Yesterday I believe on day 10 of recovery I awoke about 4am once again to swallowing blood. I got up and it was ALOT. Luckily I have stayed with my mom since the surgery so she drove me to the ER. They got it to stop bleeding by holding gauze and pressure. After three hours I was sent home and told to call the doctor who did my surgery to schedule a check up the same day. I did they were able to see me. I went to the appt. The doctor said wow. It looks great. I will prescribe you more meds since you are low. Have a good day. I am walking to the car in the parking lot.. I spit. Oh my god. It’s blood. And before I could think here it comes again… A tremendous amount. Mom called the doctor they sent a nurse down with a wheelchair. They decide to put me under again to cauterize my throat again.
So that happened. And after a few hours I was home again. The doctor said bleeding like that is about a 4% chance. And to bleed again is only a 1% chance.
I am praying that now basically I am back at square one after being almost finished it will not happen again.
Oh my. What an awful experience. Hang in there and thank you so much for sharing.
Amanda, I am 18 and our stories are almost identical, abscesses, bleeding, pain, and all. It is so comforting to hear of someone who has gone through the same struggles as you. My apologies and empathy go out to you wholeheartedly. I am currently on day 16 from the initial surgery and had to be recauterized day 14 (this past Tuesday). I started bleeding on and off starting day 11 (at my graduation- joy). On day 14 I finally had a BIG bleed that just would NOT stop (the bulk of the bleeding was from the side that was still infected from the abscesses. Doctor said the side still infected was more vascular). Pure misery, very traumatic. Trip to the ER, saw my surgeon, and had to go back under at about 1am. He told me I wasn’t starting back at square one, just fixing some bleeds; however, I am in a tremendous amount of pain, incredibly tired, and very discouraged. I was wondering if you bled again after being recauterized and how quickly you healed after the whole ordeal. I am trying to stay hopeful, but it is not easy. Praying you are feeling better.
Chloe
Hi I’m 27! Had my tonsils out a week ago today! Pain has definitely gotten worse as the days pass. So beyond ready to feel better. Trying my hardest to stay strong but the pain is definitely a battle. I’ve been able to eat here an there nothing extream. Really missing my food! Really missing my life! Got two young wild energetic loving boys who are jus to little to understand mamas pain at the moment. Have another week off work preying I feel better to be able to go back when the two weeks are up. Preying I don’t get the bleeding junk everyone is talking about that could possibly happen when these discusting scabs come off. Happy it’s done an I’m on day 7. Prey I’m free from all the pain it was causing prior to surgery. But it’s definitely hard! Stay strong fellow tonsil getting outters! Lol! Hang in there An stay focused on the prize!
I’m 21 and on my 5th day of recovery. I can safely say I have never ever experienced pain like it in my life. The first couple of days pain was minimal and was bareable and I was eating normally and sleeping a lot. Today and yesterday have been the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, along with my ears and jaw hurting as well. I’m minimal drinking because it hurts so much and no food, because I can’t bare the thought. I’m trying my hardest not too swallow either! I’ve been on morphine and codine since I’ve had it done and still am in so much pain. I cannot wait for about the 10th day like everyone is saying, because right now I regret getting them out! On the plus side I am of god work for over 2 weeks!
You got to drink! Drink drink drink! Get a big cup An fill it to the top with ice An a little juice or whatever you want to drink. Little sips are better than nothing. It will get worse the dryer your throat your scabs will crack ??? so do your best to fight for your health An DRINK! -take care-